Psy performs “Ganfnam Style” in Sydney in 2013.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Lesson Pages

• Lesson 8 Alignment with Standards
• Activity 8.1: Hallyu and K-Pop – A Global Phenomenon
• Activity 8.2: Oscar Winners – A Closer Look at Minari
• Activity 8.3: Korean Americans Past, Present, and Future
• Lesson 8 Assessments

Lesson Features

• TOPICS: Korean popular culture, K-pop, Hallyu, Parasite, Minari
• HISTORICAL TIME FRAME: 1990–present
• SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: Biographical Research Presentation, Memoir Essay

Lesson Overview

• Students explore Korean popular culture in the United States, including K-pop, Korean and Korean American films, food, and more. They compare and contrast K-pop and American popular music, conduct short research on an example of Hallyu, analyze films, conduct research for a biographical presentation of a notable Korean American, and compose a memoir essay of their own experiences.

Time Frame

• There are three activities in this lesson. Each activity requires approximately 55 minutes and includes homework.
• The Summative Assessment Memoir Essay requires approximately 55 minutes to introduce, with additional time for development and review of drafts and sharing final products.

Objectives and Learning Goals

• Students will be able to identify causes and effects of how K-pop has become a global phenomenon and expectations for future growth.
• Students will be able to identify examples and impacts of Korean popular culture on the United States.
• Students will be able to analyze movies by Koreans and Korean Americans for their relevance to U.S. society and culture.

Vocabulary

• Autobiography: an account of a person’s life written by that person.
• Bibimbap: a Korean dish consisting of rice topped with sautéed vegetables, chili paste, and beef or other meat, sometimes with the addition of a raw or fried egg.
• Biography: an account of someone’s life written by someone else.
• Genre: a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.
• Hallyu/The Korean Wave: a Chinese term which, when translated, literally means “Korean Wave.” It is a collective term used to refer to the phenomenal growth of Korean culture.
• K-pop: Korean popular music, a genre of music originating from South Korea. K-pop songs contain many musical influences, such as hip-hop, electronic dance, jazz, and rock, performed by groups featuring anywhere from four to 21 members.
• Maeuntang: a hot, spicy Korean fish soup boiled with gochujang and various vegetables.
• Memoir: a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources.
• Minari: a plant native to East Asia and found in a lot of South Korean cooking.
• Popular culture: culture based on the tastes of ordinary people rather than an educated elite.
• Popular music: music appealing to the popular taste, including rock and pop and also soul, country, reggae, rap, and dance music.

Additional Resources

• Original Lesson: Korean Popular Culture in the United States
• Lesson 6: Korean Popular Culture in the United States (Ethnic Studies Group, CA Together)

Lesson 8 Presentation Teacher’s Guide (PDF)

Download Lesson 8 Presentation (PPT)

4. Leanne Park Beyond Language (PDF)

K POP Online 교육과정 Part 1 (PDF)

K POP Online 교육과정 Part 2 (PDF)